Tag: search friendly web design

“Retro”, “vintage” and “antique” are some words that describe the nostalgia we often get about reminiscing about familiar things in our past. But yearning for the past can also bring up some other not-so-flattering terms, such as “tacky”, “outdated” and “old”.

“Everything old is new again”
This pretty much accurately sums up the history of music, fashion, movies and all things related to design. But how do you go back without going too far back? This is a tricky line to walk, especially when building something as important as your business logo or website.

Familiar Elements
Luckily, going back to a time of simple, clean design element is on point nowadays. Trends that include:
– One page design
– Minimalist navigation
– Big, round buttons (great for social media)
– Large photos
– Prominent logos/branding

With a New TwistAdd some modern elements that make it easier for visitors:
– Responsive web design
– Fixed navigation (at the top, bottom or sides means less scrolling!)
– Infinite scrolling
– Sliding header panels

Like any other trend predictions, we can only stick to what we think will do well. But 2013 definitely looks like a year where designs from the past will inspire bigger and better things for the future. Let us know what you think and make sure to check out our online portfolio.

Landing pages are important for both organic and paid search. It’s a good thing that landing pages can be consistently analyzed, updated, and improved… because there are still horribly optimized and designed landing pages that exist out there. Here are a few things to look for to make sure that you’re making the most out of your landing pages.

1) Bounce rate – If your bounce rates are high, it could be a clear indication that the page isn’t helpful to visitors. If this is the case, it’s time to revamp your content and research the keywords you’re targeting to better connect with what customers are looking for. The design could be off-putting or they might feel misdirected by clicking. This is a starting point where you can dive deeper into what is causing the high bounce rate.

2) SEO friendly web design – Are you using Flash? Is your navigation easy to navigate? Is there too much text? Do you have pop-ups? All these could be a factor in visitors not sticking to your landing page. Although it’s natural to want to share a whole lotta content, it’s good to refrain from adding more clutter than you need.

3) Objective – Clarify your main objective and ask yourself what exactly you want to accomplish with the landing page. It’s best to have 1 main objective per landing page and this overall view will help with content creation. Again, clearing out the unncessary clutter.

4) Call to action – What do you want visitors to do? Here are some things you could emphasize: Call a number, fill out a form, download a free e-book, signup for a newsletter, etc. Another thing… don’t forget to make it easy for them to do so!

5) Trust factor – Sometimes, the nature of landing pages can seem spammy and untrustworthy. This is where social networking can work to your advantage. You can display positive reviews, Tweets, number of Facebook likes and other small blurbs that help reassure visitors that they’re making the right choice by choosing your company.

Good, bad and ugly… landing pages have seen it all. Let us know what you think and if you have any good/bad examples. And make sure to read more about “Identifying and Fixing Your Worst Landing Pages” here.